Blakey began life as a batting wunderkind: he blossomed in county cricket and hit 221 for England A in Zimbabwe in 1989-90, but the following summer Yorkshire, desperate to replace David Bairstow, decided to turn him into a wicketkeeper as well. For a while the change worked, but Blakey's form with the bat soon suffered, and he dropped down to No. 7. England picked him for two one-day internationals against Pakistan in 1992, and then, controversially, ahead of Jack Russell for the winter tours of India and Sri Lanka. He didn't concede a bye in India's mammoth 560-6 at Madras, but his handling of Anil Kumble - about as convincing as Phil Tufnell against Patrick Patterson - cost him his place for ever. Blakey was a Yorkshire regular until 2000, when he attracted more headlines for the cheeky title of his autobiography - Taking it from Behind - than for his cricket. In fact, after failing to make runs from No. 3, he was dropped for the first time in his 15-year county career, in favour of Simon Guy. He has not appeared for the first-team in the last few seasons and was released after the 2006 summer. Lawrence Booth September 2006

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